Newby yesterday confirmed he was joining the player drain by signing for powerful English club Leicester.
The Highlanders and Otago captain will end his Super 14 career against the Crusaders in Christchurch next week but has committed to playing for Otago in the Air New Zealand Cup.
"I've thoroughly enjoyed my time with the Highlanders and Otago and living in Dunedin, but I'm now at a stage where I need to secure my future overseas," Newby said.
The highlight of Newby's near-decade in top-flight rugby was gaining All Black selection in 2004 and 2006.
He made his debut against England in Auckland in 2004, played against South Africa in Johannesburg later that year, and got his third and final cap against Ireland at Eden Park in 2006.
All his caps were earned off the bench.
Newby - who will still seek a place in the All Blacks this winter but has likely played his last international - furrowed his brow when asked if he should have played more tests.
"That's a tricky question for me to answer. I think I definitely could have played more," he told the Otago Daily Times.
"The statistics will always show I played three but I was on the bench for another five. I'm not hiding the fact I was disappointed I didn't get on in those five tests".
"I don't think anyone has a right to be an All Black. But I guess I'll look back a bit disappointed I didn't get more. I'm still pretty proud. It was amazing to wear the All Black jersey, particularly when we played at Ellis Park."
To some, Newby suffered because he did not have the physical presence of someone like Jerry Collins or Chris Masoe, and as he got older, he did not have the pace to play openside flanker.
"I can't change who I am. Maybe in another country I'd have played more test rugby".
"Maybe I could have done more when I was younger, gone to the gym more or whatever. But I'm not going to sit here and think what should have happened. I'm rapt with my career."
While New Zealand players are bolting in droves for Europe, where they can earn much more and play for just one team, Newby said his decision was not easy.
Squeezing the most out of his professional rugby life, and a body that has taken its share of battering in recent seasons, was a major factor in his decision to leave.
He said he had not contemplated a shift within New Zealand.
If he had re-signed with the New Zealand Rugby Union, he would have stayed in Otago.
Leicester, also home to former All Black five-eighth Aaron Mauger, won the English Premiership and the Heineken Cup last year, and is a club with an impeccable pedigree.
Newby has signed a two and a-half year contract with the Tigers.
He has played in England previously, for Newcastle, and before he signed for Leicester he had to weigh up a good offer from Northampton.
Newby hailed from Rotorua and got his start in North Harbour, but he has been a popular member of the Otago rugby community since he was first drafted to the Highlanders in 2002.
He was loaned to Otago in 2005, where he made his debut for the province as captain in the game against the Lions at Carisbrook, and then made the move permanent.
Now, Newby is as passionate as anyone about the Highlanders and Otago.
"I want to play this last season for Otago and do the right thing," he said.
"I've told a few of the younger guys that times have changed. I remember my first day with the Highlanders. We were up at Balmacewen and Laurie Mains was the coach.All the new guys had to drink a jug, then we had a few beers at someone else's house".
"That was a fantastic welcome to the place. It didn't take long to feel you were a part of this region."
Newby is not worried for the future of the Highlanders but has urged the NZRU to do more to help the franchise attract top players.
